The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-21
JGffEkSOS DAVIS TALKS.
he ENrERrAINs A sCRIBE Al
BEAUvOIR.
The Plots Of Assassination - Mr.,
Kenner's Mission TO Europe
Interviews.

New Orleans Picayune's Biloxi Spec
ial: Your correspondent visited
Bsauvoir today to call upon Mr.. JET.
ferson Davis. Upon arriving at thst
beautiful shore home Of the OK Presi.
dent OF the Coniederscy, that gentle
man greeted the writer with the grace.
iul courtesy which 10 In ssparable from
bis manner under all circumstances.
He hiss been recently suff ring from
an indisposition, from which be has
not entirely recovered, but which
does not confne him to the house, al.
ehongh interfering with any extended
excursions. Mr.. Davis spoke with his
usual energetic way In replying to the
interroes which the correspond.
ent propounded. The conversation
was substantially As follows:
"You have seen, / presume, the sr-
ticle OF Col. j. Thomas Scharf, pub.
lished In the Baltimore Herald 2" Mr..
Davis was asked.
mot In its entirety" replied Mr..
Davis. at Is sal TO have covered
about ak columns In the Herald, and
/ have read only portions OF It."
"Are the statements contained in the
passages you have read correct Z"
~ was surprised TO tee Col. Scharrs
article aud have written TO him on the
subject. Unul receive his reply 1
shall make no comments on the sub.
Jet"
"Have you read the alleged inter.
view with Gen. Roger A. Pryor In New
York, In which he Asserts that he
never heard OF the, assassination plo,
and raises q question o. to whether
you really made tho statements re.
ported by Col. Scbarf2" y
Yes" responded Mr.. Davis, 81
have seen that interview. The only
attempt at assassination was the In.
cident which occurred ct Richmond.
and concerning which Col. VIM. Pres.
ton Johnston 10 fully informed, "a he
was riding with me at the time. He
knows the facts. l ees he ssys INV
horse was nervous and would not 90
on, but ! am confident that mine was
the bsst-in fact, that horse was one
OF the finest steeds l ever rode"
Mr.. Davis having indicated q disin.
clinAtion 10 comment on the Scharf
interview In the absence OF the replv
TO the letter he has written 20 that
gentleman, the correspondent also In.
quired rs 10 the facts Of Mr.. Dnp.,n
y. Kennet's m sion 10 Europe In I.5i.
ss IN agent Of the Confederate Gov.
ernmsnt Mr.. Davis said that be had
not read the statement recently pub.
lished In some newspapers that M.
Kenner went 10 Europe clothed with
plepary power TO snpersede other Con.
fsderate ageats, and 10 pledge the
Coniederacy 10 the manumiseion Of
the slaves in the event Of recognition
by England or France. The Picsyune
at tbs time Of Mr.. Ksunsr's death said
that hls mission Was OF q financial
character, being aware Of Mr.. Kenner's
own statement to friends that he WAS
not authorised 10 propose tbs libers.
ton a the slave populstiop.
although this vas q desperate resort
which he himfslf adyocsted II Rich.
mond. Some northern jouroals hay.
Ing publishsd what purported TO have
been . statement made some years ago
by Mr.. Kenner 10 . contrary effect.
the facts we're sought from Mr.. Davis
He said substsni Tally: IT remember
that Mr.. Keaner was sent 10 Europe
during the latter part OF the war. but
my recollection 10 not clear o. 10 thu
circumstances under which he went.
l am sure he bad no aut hority 10 make
pledges OF the character mentioned.
Who could have given him snch al.
thorityf Certainly not the President
or his Cabinet IL was matter f5r The
decision Of the States, aad 1 am sure
Mr. Kenner was not delegated 10 dis
placs the repr senia ives OF the Con.
federacy abroad-Mr Mason At Lon.
don aud Mr.. Slidell at Paris."
Fom this theme the conyersatlon
turned tolhs pres mt status OF Euro
pean Affairs, with which Mr.. Dayia
spoke with the tass OF ons who fol.
lows closely the curse OF events. The
extent OF Mr. Dave Information. MS
intimate acquairisncs ~ith most di
verse matters, must constantly aston. |
ish all With whom he converses.
Eom European politics he readily
turned TO the subject Of grape culture
"A subject suggested by refsrenc, d |
the scuppernong plantstiou immedi.
stely In rear OF the Bssuvoir maas,on.
He described the different varietles Of |
grapes In this and fore "a oountri.s
sod polluted out thsir special excel
lenrse.
You have a quie, home, !" rem ,rked |
d Q sriier, looking out bom the hal
Of the old mansion across the psaceiul.
shaiy grouuds to the waters Of tne
gull beyond.
"Yes," replied Mr.. Davis with a
smile, a pleasant home for children |
and an old man"
=, And 2, 70, the newspapers follow you
They win not 10. me rest 10 peace, |
II seems" vas the reply. } m
Later ON Q casual references 10 the
condition Of Affairs a. Epsland and q
comp arson of lie govsrnmeot with
that 81 the United States, led Mr..
Davis 10 remark that Il vas imp RANT
that Q scho,l history Of the Ualted
States should be written for the use Of
The Southern youth which would cor |
rectly Inform the children ~ the south
On the political his ory Of thi. country
lhs principles ., tho foundation Of the
Eovefnnlnt. He vas OF tbs opinion
That there could be no misspprehen.
ZION ~ 10 those principles which we're
matters oil lac, accessible 10 the histo-
rian.D
Several other topic. we're toushed
npon and served chieay 10 make man.
Test M. Davis rema kable memory
of men aud thinga IL sesm, that he
never fors ~ names aud faces. and re-
ralls the mcst trivial incidents In the
lives OF persons whom he has known.
IL . probable that Mr.. Davis will
pay hla usu Al Walt N tho rafnn ground.